PETA has been after the USDA all this time to take action against Ringling for abusing the animals in its care. In recent meetings, we presented unequivocal evidence of animal abuse, including beatings, the death of a lion, lame elephants forced to perform despite chronic pain, and a baby elephant who died during a training routine. We had recently filed a new formal request for action against Ringling, and our attorneys had met with the USDA’s general counsel and urged her to begin enforcement proceedings.

PETA presented testimonial and photographic evidence that baby elephants at Ringling’s training compound are torn away from their mothers and subjected to violent training sessions so that they will learn how to perform tricks, as well as video footage from a PETA investigation showing how elephants used by Ringling are whipped, beaten, and yanked by heavy, sharp steel-tipped bullhooks behind the scenes, prior to performing.

In addition to receiving the largest civil penalty ever assessed against an exhibitor under the AWA, Ringling must now provide all employees who handle animals with training and hire a staff member dedicated to AWA compliance. We will see how that goes.

This is a great start, but no one should forget that elephants and other animals pay the price every time anyone buys a ticket to the circus. Ask all the parents you know not to take their children to this cruel show, and explain why or show them this blog.

Please click here to thank the USDA for taking action against Ringling for its abuse of animals, and urge officials to go a step further and confiscate the circus’ sick and ailing elephants.

Commenting is closed.

I have not even been tempted for years now to attend or support a circus. A lot of people do not believe that this cruelty really occurs. I totally believe it does. Wouldn’t it be heaven for those of us who truly love animals so much, to get to go in and free them all. Don’t support the bad guys any longer!!!

Elephants are very intelligent empathic creatures. If the public was only knew how much so, perhaps they would understand how unbearably cruel this life is for them and how much they suffer. Stay away from the circus!

There is no such thing as a humane circus. As long as there are animals in the circus there is abuse! It needs to end now! Being forced to do things that aren’t healthy or normal for such large, beautiful creatures isn’t morally right by any means. We have voices to say no to things we don’t want-they don’t. All they have is us! It’s our job to try our hardest to protect them and speak out for them!

There is no such thing as a humane circus. As long as there are animals in the circus there is abuse! It needs to end now! Being forced to do things that aren’t healthy or normal for such large, beautiful creatures isn’t morally right by any means. We have voices to say no to things we don’t want-they don’t. All they have is us! It’s our job to try our hardest to protect them and speak out for them!

It is unethical to use animals for entertainment. Give animals the dignity that they deserve. There are wonderful, successful human circuses such as Cirque du Soleil, which is very entertaining without ever facing one animal rights protest.

There is nothing wrong with a circus as long as the animals are not abused. The goal shouldn’t be to “ban” the circus forever, but to get to a point where the animals are not abused. The circus is fun for all people of all ages, taking it away is a bit extreme. Focus on fixing the problem of abuse and then enjoy the show

This is amazing news!!! I am so happy….now we need to still be on top of them so they comply to all the things that were agreed…they need to learn this lesson once and for UNTILL ALL ANIMAL CIRCUSES ARE COMPLETELY BANNED..

FINALLY THE MESSAGE GOT TROUGH!!!!!!! I was having dinner with friend and i got an email on my phone and as i read it my jaw dropped and it was the best news i have ever received. Thank you PETA for your hard work and we will continue protesting till its shut down for ever!!!!

It is a shame that Feld Entertainment has to be forced not to abuse their animals. It is the people at the head of this company that should be imprisoned along with the employees who performed the abuse. Using live animals for entertainment, exploited for profit, and used for lab experiements should be outlawed in this country and heavy penalties applied and enforced if caught doing it.

BOYCOTT CIRCUSES AND OTHER FORMS OF ANIMAL SPORTS.Make your voice heard by contacting your representatives and senators. This is not NATURAL to have animals perform all for the pleasures of MAN. We must teach and train our children that this is not acceptable behavior that animals need their freedom, rights and liberties as we humans do. This is no different than the whites using blacks as slavery. It is wrong and it needs to be changed.

Great achievement! But who gets the money? Does even a single penny go towards animal protection or PETA to help them finance their good work?? I’m sure PETA has tremendous expenses to pay their staff, attorneys, their PR measures etc. etc. and they will need that kind of money to uncover and fight even more animal abuses. I’m worried the penalty money will be go to the US government which is financially like a humongous black whole where money like this disappears without a trace, besides financing environmental disasters by e.g. subsidizing large scale industrial farming etc. which contributes to even more animals suffering.

I’m not trying to sound ignorant or sarcastic, but I’m just wondering… If the whips hurt the elephants so bad how come they don’t fight back? Surely they know they are stronger, and do attack when angry or feeling threatened. I’m not a big fan of the circus but I didn’t find this video too bad.

How do these people sleep at night and live with themselves knowing what they are doing to these poor creatures!As an early childhood teacher I educate my students about animal kindness and respect, and hopefully I will enforce in them love and compassion, something I am seeing less and less in people who use animals for profit and monetary gain. How sad that the human race is what it is

This is sick! $270,000.00??? What’s that? Peanuts!!! The trainers should be charged! This is an absolute discrase… animal circus’ should be shut down and ban! I really have no words for this….I would not consider $270,000.00 as a success. Criminal charges should be laid.

I’m so glad that all the hard work and non stop action has gotten us a step closer to protecting the animals at Ringlings. I truely believe that the day will come soon for them to be forced to hand over all of there animals and have them be free of this miserable life they’ve been forced to live.

This is, absolutely, the best news in a long while when it comes as one small benefit for the magnificent creature we love and respect….the elephant. Who actually attends circuses in this day and age, anyway? I don’t understand the interest anyone has in attending a circus (using live, wild animals). Even as a child I felt nothing but pity and sadness for the big cats being forced to look so foolish when “obeying” their trainer in doing silly tricks — then there is one of the most magnificent wild creatures on the planet, the tiger, being forced to perform stupid “tricks”, my heart breaks for them. Considering the tiger’s frightening path to extinction today, why are these animals allowed to be purchased by *anyone* as though it was going to live like a pampered hamster, puppy or kitten?? Ditto for elephants, their loving family relationships should be emulated by humans beings, as these wonderful giant creatures seem to be programmed to care and watch out for their own kind and tolerant of other wild animals in the elephants’ territory and “home”.

We should be urging USDA and the government to ban all animals in circus’. There is no need for these animals to have a life, not worth living in this day and age. UK circus’ don’t have animals, and the circus hasn’t suffered as a result. So come on USA, demand an end to all animals in circus’. Nothing less will do.

Circus’ must get the with times and quite using animals to do grotesque tricks that are totally unnatural and extremely cruel. No one enjoys watching animals suffer and in pain. It’s about time all circus’ exist without the use of all animals!

what gives anyone the right to treat any creature of this earth that badly??!! I really don’t understand, there is absolutely no need for this cruelty, it’s truly disgusting and my heart aches for those beautiful animals.

I am happy that justice has prevailed and that these cruel people will pay a fine for the abuse of several elephants over a span of five years. However, the fine of $250,000.00 is not nearly enough to compensate for the physical, spiritual, and emotional lives lost due to abuse. Please, keep up the good work and I hope to see these backwards circuses put to shame and to an end. Thank you PETA and all who helped make this historic situation possible. We are moving forward when people are held accountable for their abusive and negligent behaviors towards any sentient beings.

I’m thrilled to hear Ringling has to be responsible for thier actions in such a large way. It just proves its possible to make a difference. We have to be a voice for animals. They didn’t choose a life of abuse and captivity. Maybe they will think twice before electro-shock training these beautiful, highly intelligent animals. Thank u for your fight peta!!!!!!

Help tiger cubs forced to swim + used as selfie props. Tell Dade City’s Wild Things that cubs belong with their mothers!

Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights? Read more.